It’s our first anniversary today, an incredible year. A year of learning, hard work and a few tears, and I will admit a lot harder than I thought it would be. But the reward is amazing – to hear the praise, to read the reviews, to see new faces, to see old faces coming back, The Dinnington Docks is becoming more and more people’s favourite. One Gent who visited us recently like so many, took time to come and talk to me asking if I was the new Landlord, he had not been in the pub for a few years but had heard good things. He was very complimentary and commented that we had turned a declining reputation around. One thing he said really got to me; “It’s different but the same, it’s cleaner, brighter, much better food but it’s still the Docks”.
Arrogantly I thought ‘how hard can it be’, well I don’t mind hard work, I don’t mind the sleepless nights but without two great ladies I think we would not be where we are today. Kirsty our chef has worked very hard delivering great food, dealing with a far from perfect kitchen. Kirsty’s contribution has simply been awesome – we have relied on Kirsty and she has delivered. The other amazing lady is my wife Michelle, I knew she would be a natural but when I bought The Dinnington Docks I completely underestimated how much Michelle would have to do… Michelle has been incredible learning everything from VAT returns, pay roll to Purchase and Sales Ledgers. Let alone many hours of hard work front of house. Michelle has simply been my rock – letting me indulge my desire to own my favourite pub!
So to quote the great man, this anniversary is the end of the beginning, there will be challenges to face and I’m not complacent, but I’m happy we’re going in the right direction, we’ve won awards for our beer and the quality of our cellar, we’ve been given 5 stars for hygiene, our ratings on TripAdvisor, on Google and Facebook are all higher and The Dinnington Docks is growing. Thanks to all the team, you’ve all done a great job, you’ve all been a massive support – thank you.
On the 1st of October almost to the minute of when I received the keys a year ago… a Council van parked outside, a notice was tied to the pub, informing the village about our planning application. We’ve applied to restore the front and side of the building replacing concrete paths with hamstone, repairing windows and restoring the original hamstone as well as extending the rear. Delivering a much improved kitchen and bigger rear seating area overlooking the garden. Internally we’re opening up an unused ground floor room to provide more dinning space as well as opening the ‘Longhurst Bar’ to provide more drinking space. This is the first of several phases which will see the skittle ally extended and improved and eventually Bed and Breakfast units replacing the old sheds. As we have this year – we will continue to improve but respecting and keeping what makes the Dinnington Docks such a favourite – different but the same!
As complete novices, having never owned a pub or worked behind a bar since my teens, keeping my day job with constant international travel, expecting Michelle to step in, when she too was a complete novice let alone having no experience of running a business, as well as already having a job and family to look after, would I do it all again? Yes, but… only if it was the Dinnington Docks – this pub is special, it’s more than a pub it’s a piece of living history.
A few weeks ago a previous Landlord took me to one side, he gave Michelle and I a gift, it was a picture that he had taken with him when he left as a memento, but now felt it should come home to where it belongs. He felt it would be in good hands… Thank you Mike and thank you to everyone that has taken the time to talk to Michelle, Kirsty and I, without you and your support we could not do what we are – making The Dinnington Docks great again.
